Tourism & Migration statistics – May 2016

Tourism & Migration statistics – May 2016

In May 2016, 3 365 711 travellers (arrivals, departures and transits) passed through South Africa’s ports of entry. They were made up of 851 878 South African residents and 2 513 833 foreign travellers.

Foreign arrivals, 1 279 297 were made up of 85 148 non-visitors and 1 194 149 visitors.
The visitors were broken down as follows:

433 400 who arrived and departed on the same day, and

760 749 who stayed overnight (tourists).

Tourists increased by 11,0% from 685 407 in May 2015.

They were constituted as follows:

Overseas tourists, who increased by 16,2%from 138 258 in May 2015 to 160 627 in May 2016.
o The highest increase, 49,9% was for tourists from China (from 5 501 in May 2015 to 8 247 in May 2016), followed by India, 36,7% (from 10 414 in May 2015 to 14 237 in May 2016).

Tourists from SADC, who increased by 9,4% from 533 361 in May 2015 to 583 480 in May 2016.
o The highest increase, 25,5% was for tourists from Lesotho(from 117 318 in May 2015 to 147 177 in May 2016), followed by Malawi, 22,0% (from 9 568 in May 2015 to 11 676 in May 2016).

Tourists from ‘other’ African countries, who increased by 23,2% from 12 594 in May 2015 to 15 517 in May 2016.
o The highest increase, 41,0% was for tourists from Senegal (from 178 in May 2015 to 251 in May 2016, followed by Nigeria, 38,6% (from 4 315 in May 2015 to 5 991 in May 2016).

1 125 tourists, whose country of origin was unspecified.

About three-quarters (568 604) of tourists used road transport and a quarter (191 988) used air transport, while a much smaller number, 157 (0,02%) used sea transport.
The majority of tourists, 732 436 (96,3%) were on holiday compared to 23 225 (3,1%) and 5 088 (0,7%) who came for business and for study purposes respectively.
Tourists were made up of 433 180 (56,9%) males and 327 569 (43,1%) females.

About tbcsa

The Tourism Business Council of South Africa is the umbrella organisation representing organised business in the South African travel and tourism industry. Our aim is to ensure that our industry continues to play a constructive role in the country's development.